The EIA reported a build of +8,845 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a draw of -667 MBbls, as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were up in the five minutes following the announcement, to $83.38 from $82.47 just before 10:00 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a surplus of 3.10 MMBbls (0.7%) to last year, and a deficit of 14.20 MMBbls (-3.2%) to the five-year average.
